Oil and water separator



Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,557

E( c. WEISGERBER OJL AND WATER SEPARATOR Filed Sept. 26, 1923 72E/im /WH/r/rmcz Man/F040- WAM@ 00rd l 72 ,Sill/n Caux.

l/Y VAI/170x:

.arq/w CMMI@ y, BX

Patented Dem 28, 1926. y

UNITED STATES EDWIN' C. WEISGERBER, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIIIA..v

OIL AND WATER SEPARATOR.

Application filed September 26, 1923. Serial No..664.871.

My invention relates to the treatment of oil)v mixtures and it has especial reference to an apparatus for separating water and oil and recovering the oil, the object of the invention being to provide a simpleand efficient device in `which a mixture otwater and oil may be treated in a continuous manner to bring ahout'a' complete 'separation of the mixed ingredients, whether occurring lo purelyfasva mechanical mixture or as an emulsion, and in which practically a full recovery of the oil may be had, at a minimum of expense. i Y

Other objects will appear from the subjoined specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is representative of a form of embodiment of the invention and in which- Fig. 1 is la plan view showing an apparatus of preferred construction and arrangement of parts with heating means and 'means for dividing the area of the apparatus into zones. y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2 2 Fig. l, looking in the direction "of the arrow, and

F ig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, Figs. l and 2 showing the battling arrangement and oil reservoir, with means for supplying heat to the container or tank into which v the mixture of oil and water is supplied.

Bfy invention consists of means for establishing and causing a current or movement in a body of liquid having separable components, while maintaining substantially quiescent the superficial stratum; simultaneously acting upon the moving body to cause the separable components to levitate and collect on the surface of the mixture, and continuously removing the supernatant liquid.

Specifically referring to the drawing, the invention is shown as consisting ot a tank or receptacle l, of any suitable material, .having an inlet pipe 2 for the mixture of water and oil to be treated, and an outlet pipe 3 for the Water from which the oil has been separated, during the travel of the mixture from one end of said tank to the other, and collected in a convenient reservoir 4. Suitable outlets 5, 5', 5", and 5"', are provided in the reservoir 1 to drain off the supernatant oil. .These outlets 5, 5', 5", and 5"', are arranged at a height substantially parallel with the level of the Cil rsaidtank 1, and extend from the top'thereofito va determined distance from the bottom. lThese battles 6 alternate with a series of'vertically disposed battles 7, the upper edges ot' which are on a line parallel wit-h the water surface and the outlets 5, 5', 5", and 5', and below the upper edges of the battles 6. The bottom edges of the battles 7 extend below the lower or bottom edges of the baffles 6, and free of the bottom of the tank 1. Thus the spaces between the vertically disposed baiies 6 provide quiet zones A for collection upon the surfaces thereof, of the oil rising through the water. The space B` below the battles 6 and 7 provides a circulating area for the water or water and oil, and the agitation of the fluid ensuing on i circulation produces a liberation or separation of the oil, which rises between the bales 6 and 7 and accumulates on the surface. At the bottom of each of the battles 6 is a coil 8, 8', 8", and 8" for supplying heat to the mixture to effect a readier and more colnplete separation of the oil from the Water and also to break up to the greatest extent an emulsified condition of the oil and water. Each of these coils 8, 8', 8", and 8"' is connected at the end thereof to a heat supplying manifold 9, through which steam, superheated steam, combustion gases or any other hea-ting medium may be caused to flow, a valve 10, 10', 10", and 10"', on each of the coils 8, 8', 8", and 8" serving to regulate the heat of the coils independently of each other, whereby variations in temperatures may be obtained in the several spaces or zones A where necessary to free the oil from the water during the travel of the mixture around the coils 8, 8, 8, and 8". Be-

cause of the disposition of the ends of the bafiies 7 on a lower plane than the batiies 6, the oil and water mixture must circulate aroundthe heating `coils 8, 8', 8", and 8"', which are arranged on a higher parallel plane than the lower edges of said battles 7 and during such. circulation, the water and lill) oil, a mixture or emulsified oil, are 'actedl 8, and 8', respeetively,'is connected to an exhaust manifold 11, and is provided with a valve l2, 12 12, and 212'" for obvious purposes,"

On the bottom of the tank 1, and occupying substantially the entire space B below the bailles 6 and 7 is a heating coil 13, connected at one end with the manifold 9, and at the other end to an exhause manifold 14, valves 15 and 16 respectively being provided for regulative purposes.

This ooil 13 providesasteady and constant source of heat which may be required to act upon the oil mixture and operates in con-v junction With the coils 8, 8', 8, 8 to mailitain in the flowing current of oil mixture a temperature sufeient to eiect a separation of the oil from the Water.

What I claim, is:

A device for separating oil from Water comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a series of vertically disposed ballles Within and extending from the top of said tank to near the bottom thereof and providing an uninterrupted circulating space along the bottom of said tank, certain of said baffles permitting vthe water to pass beneath the lower edges of same and the oil to pass over the upper edgesv of same, l drain pipes between said baflles, a heating means parallel with the bottom of said tank,

a plurality of coils dispo-sed at the bottomof certain of said baile's, and means to heat.

all of said coils separately or collectively.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand.

EDWIN C.` WEISGERBER. 

